1 ¶ And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

2 B ut the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, the man of God, saying,

But Yahweh’s word came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

3 S peak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

“Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

4 T hus hath the LORD said, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren; return each man to his house; for this thing is done of me. And they heard the word of the LORD and returned and did not go against Jeroboam.

‘Yahweh says, “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Return every man to his house; for this thing is of me.”’” So they listened to Yahweh’s words, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

5 A nd Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built cities for defence in Judah.

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

6 H e built Bethlehem and Etam and Tekoa

He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 a nd Bethzur and Shoco and Adullam

Beth Zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

8 a nd Gath and Mareshah and Ziph

and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 a nd Adoraim and Lachish and Azekah

and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10 a nd Zorah and Aijalon and Hebron which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fenced cities.

and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.

11 A nd he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them and provisions and wine and oil;

He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, and oil and wine.

12 a nd in all the cities he put shields and spears. He fortified them greatly, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceeding strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

13 ¶ And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel gathered unto him out of all their borders.

The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.

14 F or the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the LORD.

For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to Yahweh;

15 A nd he ordained himself priests for the high places and for the demons and for the calves which he had made.

and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.

16 A nd from after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.

After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.

17 S o they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, strong for three years because they walked three years in the way of David and of Solomon.

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.

18 A nd Rehoboam took Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, the son of David, to wife, and Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, the son of Jesse;

Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

19 w ho bore him sons: Jeush and Shamariah and Zaham.

and she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

20 A nd after her he took Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah and Attai and Ziza and Shelomith.

After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 B ut Rehoboam loved Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, above all his wives and his concubines (for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines and begat twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.)

Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.)

22 A nd Rehoboam made Abijah, the son of Maachah, as head and prince among his brethren, for he thought to make him king.

Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers; for he intended to make him king.

23 A nd he caused him to be instructed and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city; and he gave them provisions in abundance. And he desired many wives.

He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them food in abundance. He sought for them many wives.